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I am losing my motivation, and I haven't even started yet.

I am wondering if I started this for the wrong reasons. I bought 200 dollars worth of wood elves and paint. I do enjoy painting when I have the opportunity, but I don't know if I have the time and energy to put into it right now.

I can't decide if I am pouting simply because I am not good at putting the figures together, and I am not sure how to make an army using the army book. Once they are assembled, I actually think my painting is decent.

I also was hoping that this would be a way to meet new friends, and so far this is not working out the way I planned. Come to find out that is because painting and modeling is a "solitary" activity for the most part, and I won't actually start meeting people until we start gaming.

I've never gamed before, and I really think I'm going to suck at it.

And then of course, there is the whole ooh this army is still in the box, and I've already picked out my second.

And then of course there is the issue of time.

I guess the real question is how did you decide this was definitely the hobby for you.

Most gaming clubs that I have been to have a small space put aside for a bit of painting and modelling.
Dedicate one night a week and force yourself to go to it.
You'll meet people after a while and there is nothing more inspiring than seeing other people's completed armies in the flesh imo.
They should be able to help you with designing a list, learning to play and any problems you are having with p+m.
Take one or half a unit in each week and get painting.
It's amazing how much you can get done in 4 or 5 hours. You should be able to get a servicable army basecoated atleast within a couple of months.
You may even find yourself painting at home too!

Good luck with it and stick at it!

Theres nothing wrong with enjoying individual aspects of the overall hobby.

Theres some people that hate painting and just play the game with unpainted figs- just like theres people that paint and rarely if ever play.

And the modeling and painting can be solitary- but doesnt have to be. Sitting around painting with freinds can be a social event just as much as the gaming itself can be. Find out if your local shops have a painting area, many even have set days for little painting classes & such(usually quiet days when there no card kids yelling the whole night).

From there its usually pretty easy to find freindly people that can show you how to play, help you make an army list, even loan you some figs for some freindly games.

Ya just gotta kinda get out there and let people get to know you- then the social aspects of the game can kick in

loranafaeriequeen wrote:
I can't decide if I am pouting simply because I am not good at putting the figures together, and I am not sure how to make an army using the army book. Once they are assembled, I actually think my painting is decent.

If youre that new to the hobby, I wouldnt worry about having trouble modelling, theres definitely a knack to it, using the right amount of glue, positioning arms, etc. Its not something you can learn overnight, & its nothing to be ashamed of if you have trouble at first. I bet theres not a single person on these forums whose first ever models/paintjobs sucked, so dont let it get you down.

loranafaeriequeen wrote:

I've never gamed before, and I really think I'm going to suck at it.

To be perfectly honest, you probably will at first. Theres a huge learning curve when you start wargaming, its not something you can pick up in a day, get good at in a week & master in a couple of months. If you want to become a good player & especially if you eventually want to play competitively you have to really persevere. Much like with the modelling & painting aspect of the hobby, no one starts & is instantly 'good', you have to make mistakes & learn from them, & thats probably going to mean losing a few games. The trick is to find the right opponents, you want people who will help you as you go & are happy to answer questions & go slowly with you, as opposed to win at all costs powergamers, & thats where the social aspect of the hobby you seek comes into it on a big level aswell.

Instead of worrying about time, treat it as an escape. I rarely find time to wargame, or even to paint & model due to work, gigging & other commitments. As such my armies tend to progress very slowly. But I really relish the time I *do* get to spend on the hobby, because for me, thats precisely what it is, a hobby. Theres no pressure for me to work to a deadline, I can fit it in whenever suits me, & theres no pressure to be amazing at it, its something I can do totally for myself, at my own pace, & I really value that about it.

If you find that youre worrying about taking too long to finish things, Itll be more fulfilling if you take the time to enjoy what youre doing, as opposed to rushing to meet goals.

@ OP:
You've already bought loads of stuff that you haven't painted yet and are thinking about buying more... You're a wargamer already

I'd suggest you actually worry less about modelling and gaming and concentrate on what you want - the making new friends. Just go along and hang out in your local store on games nights, watch other people play, ask why they're doing stuff - if they're actual friend potential, they should be friendly and give you pointers. As the Mistress said, you can bring along a small amount of stuff and work on it there, and it's a great way to get the banter going.

Don't be daunted by the amount of stuff you've got, just concentrate on enjoying yourself, the army is less important than you having fun with the hobby. Once you've settled in a bit and can cope with being 'that unpainted wood elf player', you might want to start a new army anyway, and can just sell all the stuff you've got boxed up worrying you

Deciding if this was the hobby for me was never an issue. The buzz I got (and still get) from collecting, painting and playing is all the proof I need.

I started wargaming because I liked building models when I was younger. Then I found wargaming where you can build models and then play with them. Win!

If you feel that you aren't motivated you could always set up a P&M blog. Get harassed into keeping good progress with the constant demand for pictures.

Also about the first time gaming side, anybody doing anything for the first time isn't going to be amazing. Well unless it's poker and it's me(most first time poker players apparently)... but that's another very common story.

I've never decided if this hobby is good for me or if it fits with my life or my schedule. I just happen to love this minis. I was 13 when I bougth my first WD and my first blister. Now I'm 28. In this time, there have been times when I've been more active than others. I don't think it's a big issue. I have armies that still are just a draft, rather than a proper army. I'll grow them when I can, as I did with my main army.

I wouldn't worry too much. If you feel "forced" to paint or to whatever, stop for a while. Pack everything in a box. Maybe in a couple of months (or years lol) you are eager to paint and do a lot of stuff in a short time. Who knows?

Or maybe a P&M blog could help, as Colossal Donkey says. Whatever you do, don't think you are losing time, or money. Someday, when you grab a mini and a paintbrush with enthusiasm, you'll make cool things.

Edit: if putting together the minis bores you to death, I would suggest to wait for the next edition of WFB. The starter box is supposed to be out in September IIRC. If the models are like the ones in the Battle for Skull Pass box, you wouldn't need much effort to build a small force in a couple of hours. You would be able to play some small games, and if you have fun -I'm pretty sure you would- then you would find the boost you needed.

So you like the painting aspect, that's a start.

You obviously spent a decent amount to get into it for a reason. As others have said before it 'does' take time but definately focus on what YOU want to get out of it.

Want to learn to model better? Start scoping the net for guides... there is STACKS of good stuff to learn and be inspired from.

Want to make friends? As someone said before, hang out at the store/club (even without all your stuff) and start introducing yourself. Best way I've found is ask questions and focus on other peoples armies. I don't think there aren't too many gamers who don't get a kick out of giving tips/advice/bragging/commenting on their hobby as well and helping out 'the new guys'.

Want to motivate yourself a bit more? Maybe change from painting and modelling to reading the fluff. It keeps you in the hobby but doesn't burn you out doing the same thing over and over.

And for repeating another post, a blog is a great way to keep yourself motivated. People always love seeing the improvements you will make along the way. Hell, I haven't updated my blog for a fortnight until today! Guess what the post was? "Sorry I haven't been around, have to be more MOTIVATED!!"..

Feel free to check it out here... maybe I could even inspire you there?!

http://eyeforterror.com/

Any questions, feel free to PM!

For myself, painting and modelling isnt really that great of a part of this game, so I can see where you're coming from.

Thats not to say that I dont enjoy painting. Its relaxing and sometimes I genuinely enjoy it. However, it remains a neccessary evil to me.

If you're interested in this game or the GW hobby in particular...what provoked you into starting? You say that you started up to gain new friends so I'll assume its not friends pressuring you to start up.

If neither the modelling aspect nor friends started you in this hobby then I'd say its either the storyline/fluff or the idea of gaming with awesome looking models on the board. In which case your dilemma is pretty easy to solve.

Get more into the fluff, buy a couple of the novels at a bookstore. I highly recommend Gav Thorpe for Fantasy, both Grudge Bearer and his story about Malekith are great reads. The guy cannot write a codex at all but his fiction is amongst the best GW writers out there. (thats not saying much but still)

If its not the fluff that motivated you, but instead the idea of gaming....theres only one option for you. GET ON THE TABLE! This will motivate you to build your army.

It's quite common to realise that you started off with the worng army. If you're already contemplating your second army then you may have chosen poorly with your first.

After years of being in this hobby, lemme tell you how BEST to choose a MAIN or STARTING army that you will stick with.

Even if the fluff isnt your main reason for getting into this game, its very important for picking your first army. FLUFF and MODEL APPEAL. This is what you need to remember. If the models look really cool to you, you'll be inclined to buy them, put them together and eventually paint them. Fluff helps out in this aspect as well. If you think that Dark Elf Witches have one of the coolest 'fictions' in the entire line...thats just what you need to motivate you into building an entire force out of them just to SHOW other people how much better they are than THIER army!

DO NOT buy an army/models based on wargaming rules and/or the hope of winning games. This is the quickest way to get bored with your force, and rules are fleeting anyway. By the time you get your army up and truly running you'll have another codex/rules edition/FAQ or something that will throw a wrench into your carefully laid plans and you'll have an army that isnt as powerful as you expected and you're not really interested in anyways....and I GUARANTEE that it will not be painted! (well, unless you dip it )

Anyway, I hope this helps. I've built many armies, and started many more. I've built armies to compete with and armies for my own fun. The ones I built for myself were FAR more enjoyable to build, and they were completed faster. I've been in this hobby since 1988, thats how long I've been with GW. It's the cool models and cool fluff that completes an army. Its the most rewarding if you stick to it too.

Stick with the hobby, give it some time. Completing a video game just to see the end credits doest compare even in the slightest to laying down your entire 2000pt painted Imperial Guard army against someone elses Space Marine force of proxied and bare metal/plastic models....and going to a tournament and seeing all the painted stuff and actually being a part of that? Thats something else entirely.

Stick with it. Explore the hobby. Buying a couple of box sets and giving up? You didnt even give it a chance.

Great points above Deadshane...

Interesting point about Gav Thorpe though. Can't stand his stuff IMO. Ah well...

Definately agree they should stick with it though. You'll get from it what you put into it...

Get gaming fast.

Model the minis, get the army built and gaming. Meet folks, get started.

Only a jackass would grief someone for learning/not being amazing from the off.

As you game with your army, certain units will feel 'right' and be used more often, also you'll have core troops you're always fielding.

Paint those, a block at a time.

But get gaming and mixing with folks, that's the beginning.

I decided to start gaming 'cuz of all the hot chicks you meet at the hobby store....

*cough*

Saldiven wrote:I decided to start gaming 'cuz of all the hot chicks you meet at the hobby store....

*cough*

YEA! Hook it up!

I can see your problem if you really WANT to start gaming, but like the look of a painted army too much to play with unassembled or grey models.

Have you thought about buying a second hand, pre-painted army on eBay? If you choose something that is pretty common you can get a painted army REALLY cheap. It won't be amazing, but you can start gaming immediately, which means you won't feel like you're missing out, and won't have to rush your Wood Elves.

Gaming with the substitute army will give you more motivation to get your Elves painted anyway and teach you how to build an army and play the game. Before you know it you'll have switched to Elves as your gaming army, and sell the cheap one on eBay again!

I decided it was a hobby for me after starting to attend grand tournments. I was a local shop/ local tournment gamer who did well for years. I would goto gamesdays go 3-0. I thought i was a decent painter and knew the game well.

Went to my first GT and realized I knew nothing. I saw armies that were incredible. I saw armies that were average in the room, which I knew I could paint better than, and met players who made me look at the game differently, and see how the game could be fun and competitive at the same time. I went 2-3-1 at my first GT and it was a blast.

What I realized, was I went into the hobby because it intrigued me. I live a fairly active life, enjoy painting and gaming and have a good group of friends/ club mates that do also. I stayed in the hobby because GT's keep the competitive juices flowing, present new ideas and the challenge of evolving with painting/ hobbying, and you meet guys who share a common bond with. Its a hobby, it should be enjoyable, fun, and friendly for the most part.

I think that I would hate having a pre-painted army. Part of the reason I wanted to do this was to paint. It's the gaming aspect, I'm not certain about. And I think I'm being petty about it.

I finally found the assembly illustrations on the side of my box after assembling all 12 dryads. I left a couple of pieces off. I wasn't sure where some of the leafy/branchy parts went. So I went for a very simple, head, body, arms back branch design. I think they look pretty cool, and they are painted really cool. they simply don't have a lot of fluff on them.

I wish I had a good camera to show them off.

The whole part about wanting a second army had to do with falling in love with Saint Celestine. She's simply the most beautiful figure I've ever seen. If I'd seen her first, I might not have even done elves. Elves are pretty and I wanted a faerie queen. i chose to play fantasy because there are more pretty figures. I almost decided to paint LOTR hobbits.

Deadshane:

That was one of the most terrible things I think anyone has ever sprung on me in a forum. You are a bad bad person.

Deadshane, Look I love you and everything but please don't post gak like that my eyes they bleed.

Anyways. I Wargame because it's a hobby, I won't take it far enough to get competive and enter tourneys, cause the people atleast in my area who go to those have less personality then tree bark.

I like building stuff the most, painting really just seems like a chore, but it does feel nice having a fully painted army. People seem to apreciate it too.

Hell the game itself is fun!

Primarily I like playing games. I get most enjoyment from playing and writing different lists to try out. I like modeling too and will happily spend hours at my table with a knife and some glue. I paint when I can, but I'm not too good at it so it never really lives up to my standard, but then i guess its one of those things that you get better at with practice, so i should do more.

Deadshane, you are a bad human being.

I now have diet Coke dripping out of my nose because of you. Do you have any idea how much that hurts???

HI all.
I game for the social interaction and the enjoyment of taking a trip to a imaginary battle field and seeing how good I am at waging war.
In PERFECT SAFTEY.(Excluding stray dice impacts and tape measure nips that is... ).

The tactical and strategic challenge in my group , and the wide selection of games has kept me entertained and out of serious trouble for nearly 28 years...

If assemblng and painting is not your bag.Just play games with pre-paints or counters.There are wargames out of the TTMG hobby, and TTMG that are not sold by GW.

TTFN
Lanrak.

I host a painting and potluck night weekly and have a steady 2 that come and another 3 are possible. I also paint at least one night a week while the GF watches TV, and I typically get a few smaller games in a week against a neighbor, and every other week something bigger.

Some great advice here. Although it sounds like getting some people to paint with would help a lot. Especially if it's with people who you can learn new techniques on painting with. Painting in a group commonly becomes less productive for me than if I spent that time by myself painting, but the hard part for me is motivating myself to put that amount of time aside for painting in the first place. The hard part is finding a group to paint with though. TFG becomes that TFGroup for me, I wish I could offer you advice on finding a group to paint with but I'm struggling with that issue myself.

Get a buddy into it too. The two of you can build models together, paint them together, then have them kill each other. Repeat until you both have 2000+ point armies of fully painted figures.

social interactions and painting/converting. actual playing isnt that important.

Crisis of faith is over. I spent two hours in my reasonably local hobby shop (1 hour away) painting the remaining six dryads. Detailing is all that is left. They look pretty good. I will probably finish them tomorrow then start on my glade guard.

Thank you for all of the suggestions. For some reason, I took my interest in focusing on acquiring pieces for a second army before finishing my first as a sign that I just wasn't all that into it. That couldn't be farther from the truth.

Anyone else loath putting together and preparing miniatures?

It takes so much effort for me to not just leave the mould lines on the model...it really is so fething TEDIOUS when I have 70 Gors to do this to, not to mention the other gak.

Honestly, that's where this hobby gets me, and it really pisses me off. Just the effort of snipping off every single model off the sprue, then clipping the bits of sprue off the model, then doing the mould lines, then gluing on 2 arms, the horns on the head, and then finally the head.

Ugh.

I started playing by accident. I was going some where with my dad and we passed a game store and i wanted to check it out. we walked inside and i saw 10 people playing 40k. i thought it was the coolest things since videogames and ive been playing ever since.